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Heather's Biography

Childhood Career Ambitions: Navy Fighter PilotTo Her 15-Year-Old Self: "Slow down and enjoy 15."Role Model: Her motherIdeal Interview Subject: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of Liberia

Heather McTeer was born and raised in Greenville, Mississippi, “the heart and soul of the Mississippi Delta.” After graduating from Spelman College with a BA in Sociology, she decided to pursue her Juris Doctorate at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, Lousiana. With degree in hand, she returned to Greenville to work at her father’s legal practice.
In 2003, 27-year-old Heather McTeer decided to put herself up as a candidate for Mayor of Greenville. Many thought her candidacy was far-fetched. As McTeer states, “Greenville had never had an African-American Mayor. Greenville had never had a woman who had run and let-alone won the office. And certainly there had never been anyone as young as I was that was attempting the feat.” She won the election, and was elected for a second term in 2007.

McTeer also served as the National President of the National Conference of Black Mayors. She is also currently serving as the Chairwoman of the Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee.